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Dharampur is situated on the banks of the Swaragavahini river and
is surrounded by the Sahyadri mountain range on east, west and south
sides. Due to its location, the town enjoys a very pleasant climate,
all throughout the year. Dharampur, situated in south Gujarat, was
a capital of the former princely State of Dharampur. Originally,
it was known as Ramnagar. The present day Dharampur dates back to
1764 AD and was founded by King Dharmedvji.
Dharampur was
ruled by the decendants of the Sisodia Rajputs of Chittod. After
the fall of the Delhi Sultanate in south Gujarat, the State of Dharampur
flourished and gained a very significant and powerful position by
controlling at least seven strategic forts in the region. The Dharampur
State was surrounded by the Muslim states of Khandesh, Ahmednagar
and Gujarat Sultans, but because of its strategic importance, was
never attacked by the Muslims. Even the Parsis found political patronage
under the Dharampur kings. The Dharampur kings had cordial relations
with Portuguese traders from the south Gujarat ports and used to
receive tax revenue from them.
The city of Dharampur had two major phases of development the first
in the late18th century, when the Rana undertook the construction
of Raj Mahal, public buildings, stepwells and temples. The second
phase was in the late 19th century, when as a part of the Queen
Victoria Golden Jubilee celebrations, the Anglo Vernacular School,
jail and hospitals were constructed. King Mohandevji (1981-1921
AD) studied at Rajkumar College and introduced many reforms. Under
his patronage, Mohan Vilas Palace, Pramod Bhavan, State Guest House
and several temples were constructed. Roads, water tanks an dbridges
were built to imporve the infrastructure of the state.
King Vijaydevji,
on his accession to kingdom in 1921, constructed museum and dedicated
it to Lady Wilson. Vijaydeviji undertook extensive travelling to
collect rare and genuine art objects for display in myseum. He was
a great partron of art and music and a well known musician,w ith
equal command over both Indian and western classical music. He wrote
a treatise on mucic `Sangeet Bhav' in six volumes, with Gujarati,
Hinidi, English and French notations. He was also fond of hunting
and constructed a hunting lodge at Audha and residences at Wilson
Hills as summer retreats.
Raj Mahal, the
original residence of the royal family is now in a ruin condition,
but there are other interesting structure in the town. The Radha-Krishna
Temple, Japanese Garden and Nagarsheth Bunglow are worth visiting.
The Japanese
Garden (Gandhibag) has an imported clock from Japan- a novelty in
those days. The Radha-Krishna Temple is designed more like a residence
in colonial style with decorative plaster work and sloping roof.
